Box-opener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEO. C(TAFT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,457, dated October 21, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. TAFT, of the city and county of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Tool for Raising the Lids of Boxes, called a Box-Opener; and I do hereby declare that the same is described and represented in the following specification and accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1, represents a top view, and Fig. 2, a side elevation.

The same letters of reference apply to each drawing respectively.

The nature of my invention consists in a lever with a brace connected to it, by a pin passing throughboth, to form a joint, so that the brace vibrates upon the lever; so that when the short end of the lever is forced under the lid of a box, and the foot of the brace brought in contact with the side of the box; the brace forms the fulcrum for the lever to raise the lid of the box.

The practice of porters in jobbing houses is to drive a chisel between the lid and the side of the box and pry across the edge of the side and by so doing they split the lids and damage the edges of the sides so as to render the boxes unfit for further service; so that new boxes are required to ship the goods in, when they are sold. But if the boxes are opened by my box opener and a little care taken to save the lids; the boxes will serve to ship the goods in and save the expense of new boxes.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, or the mode of using it.

A is a strong lever provided with a handle B, and split and sharpened at C, so as to enter between the lid and the side of a box, each side of the nail which fastens them together. The lever A, has a projection D upon it to which the brace E is fastened by the pin F. The base E is of the form represented in the drawing, and is divided at the upper end so as to insert the lever A, to which it is fastened as above mentioned. The lower end of the brace E is sharpened and notched at G, so as to catch into the side of the box readily; it is also provided with a heel H, so as to form the notch I; so as to stand on the edge of the side of the box when required. The brace E vibrates freely upon the pin F to any posi tion between E and E represented by dotted lines.

To use the box opener, force the end C between the lid and the side of the box, and press the points G against the side, then bear down upon the handle A, which will raise the point C, and take up the lid with facility.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in an instrument for opening boxes, is

The combination of the lever A with the brace F, constructed and operating substantially as described; either with or without the heel H.-

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. C. TAFT. Witnesses:

WM. GREENLEAI, JOHN GLEAsoN. 

